General election – are you ready?

With less than a week to go until polls open for the 2024 general election, we are reminding voters on how and where they can vote.

There are 6 candidates contesting the Epping Forest constituency seat – read general election candidates announced for a list of candidates. The seat was previously held by The Right Honourable Eleanor Laing MP.

Polling hours

On Thursday 4 July polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm.

Bring your poll card

You will have received your poll card in the post. You must go to the polling station on your poll card. Please bring your poll card with you to vote as it will help speed up the process, although you do not need your poll card to vote. Find out how to vote in person.

No voter ID = no vote

You must show an accepted form of photo ID or you will not be allowed to vote. Find out about voter ID including a full list of accepted photo ID. Please remind family and friends they will also need photo ID to vote.

Marking your vote

Put an X next to your chosen candidate on the ballot paper using the pencil provided. You can also use your own pen if you want to, but don’t write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.

Posting your postal vote

Those voting by post are advised to use normal Royal Mail postbox so that your vote is received by 4 July. There are new rules for returning a postal vote by hand. Votes for the Epping Forest constituency must be handed to an authorised officer at the civic offices in Epping during office hours or at a polling station on election day before 10pm.

Result declaration

Counting will start as soon as polling stations close. We will publish the result on our website and social media as soon as it is declared, this could be anytime from 3am on Friday morning.

Make sure you’re ready

Georgina Blakemore, Acting Returning Officer for the Epping Forest constituency said:

With only days to go, make sure you’re ready for the general election on the 4 July. Before heading to the polling station on election day, check that you’ve got an accepted form of ID and remember to bring it with you.

If you need any help, you can contact the electoral services team, call 01992 564411 or email elections@eppingforestdc.gov.uk.

If a voter has concerns about showing their face at a polling station, because they wear a face covering for example, they can ask to have their ID checked in private. They won’t need to give a reason for their request or explain why they’d prefer privacy. Staff will be trained to handle requests for ID to be checked in private, discreetly and with courtesy.

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